Cutting knife support



Oct. 7, 1941- A. F. SHIELDS CUTTING KNIFE SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FiledFeb. 10, 1940 l E o. N Mi ma V T U i Ll. v w

Oct. 7, 1941. A. F. SHIELDS CUTTING KNIFE SUPPORT Filed Feb. 10, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIC5.2.

INVENTOR. mam ,9. Shilds A TTORNFYS Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATESPATENT]:OFFICElff aazsuissmon v I 1 I Albert E. Shields, Jamaica, s. n.assigninu s. j

tratrfififffifiltfirfffitf'sfiafi Application February 10, 1940, SerialNo. 219,293

'4 Claims. (01. Isa-ca) This invention relates to cutting knifemechanisms and more particularly to supports therefor, includingsupports for mechanism operable therewith; r In the manufacture ofcorrugated sheet material, it is frequently necessary to out such sheetmaterial into predetermined sections of standard length. This is mostfrequently done as the corrugated web comes from the machines whichmanufacture the same, the web led from. these machines being cut to theproper width.

It is customary therefore to place the cutting machine at the terminusof the corrugated web manufacturing line so that the end product of theentire manufacturing process is a series of corrugated sheets ofpredetermined standard length. The cutting machines for this purpose arecomplicated and heavy while nevertheless requiring delicacy ofadjustment. Thus, for-instance, the same machine with the same cuttingknives may, by simple adjustments, such as that shown in applicationsNos. 320,471 filed Feb. 24, 1940, 318,294, flled Feb. 10, 1940 andPatent No. 2,208,350 and Patent No. 2,202,872 all of which are assignedto the assignee of this application, be arranged to cut sheets ofvarying lengths without interfering with or slowing down or changing thespeed of movement of the corrugated web as it comes from the priormanufacturing processes.

That is, a machine which is cutting sheets 120" in length may by asimple adjustment be changed to cut sheets of 90", 1 ny other dimension.In all cases, the cutting knives are driven primarily through a Reevesdrive mechanism which varies the average speed of rotation of thecutting knife with respect to the ting knives will be traveling at thespeed of the web during the actual cutting.

Since the Reeves drive itself and the various adjustments and the drumsor shafts carrying the cutting knives are continuously rotating andfrequently being varied in their adjustments and since the cuttingknives themselves and all of the rest of the machinery including theReeves when the knives pass through the corrugated web, the machineitself must besturdily and rigidly constructed and all parts thereofshould as far as possible be interbraced and rigidified.

Heretofore, in cutting machines of this type, the elements thereof haveto a great extent been separated or dispersed. Thus the Reeves drivewhich transmits power to the rotating cutting knives, and which issubjected to the greatest stresses, being driven at one end from thepower source and at the other being subjected to the vibration and theperiodic load of the passing of the knife through the sheet, has alwaysbeen not so much a part of the machine ,integrated and unitarytherewith, but rather an attachment thereto, to be placed in any desiredposition with respect thereto as space requirement provided. Also theinput driving mechanism such as gears or chains and other apparatus havehitherto been separately housed or detached from the main body of themachine in some way.

The vibration entailed in the operation of the machine and the heavyperiodic loads have frequently caused minor disarrangoments" of theReeves drive and interrelated mechanism which, while not serious inthemselves, nevertheless hasten the wear of the entire; machine and alsocaused continued inconvenience in that frequent readjustments werenecessary.

A principal object of thisinvention therefore is to integrate the entire,assembly necessary for the cutting'of the continuously travelingcorrugated web. That is, to combine in a single unitary apparatus, whichis interbraced, all of the elements necessary for the operation.

A further object of this invention is to arrange the Reeves drive sothat it may be mounted within the apparatus itself and so that it may beprotected by its mounting therein and be so arranged that -vibratoryforces and periodic changes in the load can have no effect on theadjustment or arrangement thereof.

Further objects of this invention are to cross brace and interbrace theentire apparatus along its outer surface in such a way that it presentsthe appearance of a single unitary structure, the parts thereof beingaccessible for adjustment and repair but the entire apparatus havingnevertheless a completed and finished appearance and being protected.

Further objects and uses of this invention will in part be apparent andin part pointed out in this1 hfollowing description and drawings, in w cdrive is periodically subjected to increased strain Figure 1 is a viewin perspective of a duplex taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33ofFigure2.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, I have here shown a duplex cuttingmachine capable of operating upon two separate webs at the same time.The machine comprises cutting knives l3 and ii respectively mounted onshafts l2 and I3 to interengage with each other once during eachrevolution of shaft l2 and," in order to sever the corrugated sheetmaterial passing therethrough. The machine also comprises cutting knivesl3 and I3, each respectively mounted on the drums or shafts l6 and I! inorder to periodically cut a second web passing therebetween.

Referring specifically to Figure 2, the web of sheet material when it isreceived from the prior manufacturing processes may be fed by theconveyor belt l3 into and between the shafts l2 and IS on to theplatform or bed |3. The forward edge of the web. as it is thrustforward, passes I between the feed rollers 23 and 2| which continue tocarry it forward onto the bed 22. The cutting knives i and are arrangedto cut the web material at any selected interval after the forward edgethereof has passed between the feed rollers and 2|.

The sheet after it has been cut by the knives l3 and II neverthelessremains under the influence of feed rollers 23 and 2| and is forcedforward on the bed 22 where it may be manually removed or the bed 22 maybe so short that the forward rollers 20 and 2| may feed the cut sheet sothat its center of gravity extends beyond the edge of the bed 22 so thatit may fall off when it has left the feed rollers thus leaving the bedfree for the next sheet. The operation is exactly the same with respectto cutting knives l3 and I3 and their associated feed belt 23, bed 23,feed rolls 23, 21 and 23.

A single power source may, as is clear, be used for the operation ofboth cutting knives. As is seen in Figures 1 and 3, power is transmittedfrom the power shaft 23 through the bevel gears 33 and 3| to the shaft32. Gear 33 keyed to shaft 32 meshes with gear 33 keyed to shaft 33 andthereby operates one of the members 33 of the Reeves drive 31. ThisReeves drive through the shaft 38 and appropriate gearing and connectingmechanism contained in the housing 39 operates one of the cutting'knifeassemblies, for instance, knives i3 and II.

Gear 43 keyed to shaft 32 meshes with gear 3| keyed to shaft 32 of theReeves drive mechanism 43 which in turn through the shafts 33 operatesmechanism housed in the housing 33 and controlling and operating theother set of cutting knives,

to wit, knives i3 and I3.

Other mechanism such as that shown in patents and applications abovementioned for varying the adjustments of the cutting knives, for varyingthe adjustments of the Reeves drive, and for integrating the adjustmentsof the Reeves drive and the cyclical adjustments of the cutting knivesmay be housed in either housing 33 and 33.

These members are not shown since they are not necessary to the presentdisclosure, it being suflicient to point out that the Reeves drive isconnected to and is part of the power chain operating the cuttingknives. Instead of mounting the Reeves drive as an attachment to themachine or outside the machine or in any indeterminate relation to thepresent machine, the Reeves drive of the present invention has been madean integral part of the machine itself encased within the covering ofthe machine and supported on bracing structures which themselves formpart of the machine.

Thus the housings which house the associated mechanism are themselvessupported on base 33, being riveted, welded or otherwise securelyafflxed thereto in any suitable manner.

Also the main driving gears 33 and 3|, together with their respectiveshafts and supporting bearings are seen to be housed completely withinthe main housing where they run in the same oil bath with the housinggears.

The base 33 comprises also a platform 41 (Figure 2) carrying supportingflanges 33 and 33 cast or integral therewith.

Brace 33 comprises main portion 3| and base portion 32 and is securelyattached to the platform 41 by bolts or rivets 3.3 passing throughflanges 33 of said brace 33. The brace 3| also comprises integrallateral flanges 33' (Figure 3) which are by means of bolts 33 securelyattached to the housings 33 and 33.

Top brace I33 is. a flanged member which may by bolts llll be connectedbetween. the housings along the top of the apparatus.

The brace 33 therefore securely integrates the housings 33 and 33spacing them rigidly and even assisting in binding them to their base.

A similar brace 31 (Figures 1, 2 and 3) constitutes the entire front ofthe machine and comprises a principal front.member 33 having lateralflanges 33 and 33 which are bolted securely by bolts 31 and 32 to theend pillars 33 and 33. This brace 31 also has bottom flange 33 which isbolted securely by bolts or rivets 33 to the base 31.

In this manner by means of braces 33 and 31. the housings 33 and 43 arecombined into a single unitary homogeneous entity efficientlycrossbraced to prevent any shifting or vibration of any part of themechanism relative to any other part. The brace 31 may have openings 33therein covered by removable members 33 to provide for ready access tothe interior of the member for adjustment, cleaning, repair or otherpurposes.

The rear brace 33 has L-shaped protrusions 31, 31 therefrom preferablyintegral with the brace 33 and extending into the interior of themachine (see Figures 2 and 3). Likewise the brace 31 has similarL-shaped projections 33, 33 extending into the interior of the machineand directly opposite the protrusions 31.

Cross-bracing members 33 and I3 are mounted between each pair ofL-shaped members 3'! and 33, being secured thereto by means of bolts 1|passing through the respective flanges of the members 33 and I3 and themembers 31 and 33. This serves further to rigidly interbrace andcross-brace the entire mechanism.

The Reeves drives 31 and 33 are mounted with in this rigi lycross-braced and interbraced frame. As will be seen. the shafts 33 and33 of Reeves drive 31 are effectively supported between the cross-brace33 and the housing 33 and the shafts 34 and 32 of the Reeves drive 33are eifectively supported between the cross-brace l3 and the housing 33.

In this manner, the Reeves drive is made an integral part of themechanism, is rigidly mounted within an interbracing, rigidifyingframeassure work of the mechanism, is no longer an appendage to'themechanism but an essential and homogeneous part thereof.

The Reeves drives cannot shift with respect to the mechanism by reasonof its rigid and braced support, is no longer subjected to the variousdisadjustments which arise from uninhibited vibration, and is rigidlyheld in such manner that it cannot shift or become disadjusted by reasonof the variations in loads imposed there- It may be noted that as seenin Figures 1 and 3, the power source 29 may be connected through .zheopening 12 which in these illustrations is shown covered over andprotected, the only :hange necessary in such case being the addition ofa beveled gear similar to the beveled gear 3| at the end of the shaft 32opposite the opening I2.

In this way, an additional power source may be, if desired, connected tothe mechanism or if for any reason it seems desirable the mechanism orthe power source may be shifted so that power is received from theopposite side of the machine.

The essential element, therefore, of this invention is the cross-bracingand interbracing of the entire machine, the mounting of the Reevesdrive, power and input drive mechanisms not as appendages to the machinebut as integral parts of the machine, the cross-bracing and support ofthe Reeves drive in the machine and the improvement in the appearance ofthe machine by means of the cross-bracing forming the outer walls of themachine and interbracing which presents a mechanism having a solidcomplete unitary appearance and one in which the various portions andmechanisms thereof are fully protected.

While I have shown in the foregoing description, a duplex cuttingmachine comprising two pairs of cutting knives and suitable apparatusfor each set, it will be obvious that the present invention will readilybe utilized in a simplex cutting machine and indeed has been found to beat least as practicable commercially in such an apparatus. Other meansof bracing and arranging the various portions of the apparatus in themanner herein described will now be clear to those skilled in the artand I therefore prefer to be limited not by the disclosure herein, butonly by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A duplex cutting apparatus for cutting successive sheets from a pairof continuous webs, said apparatus comprising two sets of rotatingcutting knives and means individual to each of said sets for adjustingthe speed of rotation thereof, said sets of cutting knives being mountedbetween end housings of said apparatus, said adjusting means including aReeves drive for each of said sets, a power connection from a powersource to the Reeves drive of each of said sets, and a power connectionfrom the Reeves drive to said cutting knives, a front brace between saidend housings, said brace substantially enclosing the front of theapparatus, a rearv brace between said end housings, said rear bracesubstantially enclosing the rear of the apparatus, the Reeves drive ofeach of said sets being sup ported by a cross brace extending betweensa'id front and rear braces and comprising a support for one side of theReeves drive within the apparatus, the opposite sides of each of saidReeves drives being supported in end housings.

2. A duplex cutting apparatus for cutting successive sheets from a pairof continuous webs,

- said apparatus comprising two setsof rotating cutting knives and meansindividual to each of said sets for adjusting the speed of rotationthereof, said sets of cutting knives being mounted between' end housingsof said apparatus, said adjusting means including a Reeves drive foreaph of said sets, a power connection from a power source to the Reevesdrive of each of said sets, and a power connection from the Reeves driveto said cutting knives, a front brace between said end housings, saidbrace substantially enclosing the front of the apparatus, a rear bracebetween said end housings, said rear brace substantially enclosing therear of the apparatus, the Reeves drive of each of said sets beingsupported by a cross brace extending between said front and rear bracesand comprising a support for one side of the Reeves drive within theapparatus, the opposite sides of each of said Reeves drive beingsupported in end housings, the power connectiton to each Reeves driveand the power connection from each Reeves drive to its respective set ofcutting knives being .housed in an individual end housing.

3. A duplex cutting apparatus for cutting successive sheets from a pairof continuous webs, said apparatus comprising two sets of rotatingcutting knives and means individual to each of said sets for adjustingthe speed of rotation thereof, said sets of cutting knives being mountedbetween end housings of said apparatus, said adjusting means includinga'Reeves drive for each of said sets, a power connection from a powersource to the Reeves drive of each of said sets, and a power connectionfrom the Reeves drive to said cutting knives, a front brace between saidend housings, said brace substantially enclosing the front of theappratus, a rear brace between said end housingsgsaid rear bracesubstantially enclosing the rear 0f the apparatus, the Reeves drive ofeach of said sets being supported by a cross brace extending betweensaid front and rear braces and, comprising a support for one side of theReeves drive within the apparatus, the opposite sides of each of saidReeves drives being supported in end housings, the power connection toeach Reeves drive and the power connection from each Reeves drive to itsrespective set of cutting knives being housed in an individual endhousing, said power connection to each Reeves drive comprising arotatable shaft, gear connections from said rotatable shaft to eachReeves drive, said rotatable shaft being mounted between said\endhousings.

4. A duplex cutting apparatus for cutting successive sheets from a pairof continuous webs, said apparatus comprising twosets of rotatingcutting knives and means individual to each of said sets for adjustingthe speed of rotation thereof, said sets of cutting knives being mountedbetween end housings of said apparatus, said adjusting means including aReeves drive for each of said sets, a power connection from a powersource to the Reeves drive of each of said sets, and a power connectionfrom the Reeves drive to said cutting knives, a front brace be- 4-camera connection from each Reeves drive to its respective set oicutting knives being housed in an individual end housing. said-powerconnection to each Reeves drive compriaing a rotatable lhatt. eearconnections from said rotatable shaft to each Reeve: drive, saidrotatable shaft beinz mcuntedbetweeneaidendhmmnmandmeam for connectingsaid rotatable shaft to a power source at either housing.

Amm'rr.

